PREP.  01*. 

(JklMDItW) 

a 


SERMON, 

PREACHED  IN  NEW-YORK,  JULY  4th,  1793. 


ING       T    H 


ANNIVERSARY 


OF        T    H     E 


INDEPENDENCE   OF  AMERICA: 


AT    THE    REQUEST    OF    THE 


TAMMANY  SOCIETY,   OK  COLUMBIAN  ORDER, 


BY    ST>L  M  U  E  L  \M  I  L  L  E  R,    A.  M. 
I.   •••"  - 

ONE  OF  THE  MINISTERS  OF   THE  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCHES,   IN 
THE  CITY  OF  NEW- YORK. 


NEW-YORK-PRINTED    BY   THOMAS   GREENLEAF, 


GIFT 


In  Society,  July  4,  1793. 

JTLESOLVED,  That  the  Thanks  of  this 
Society  be  returned  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  SAMUEL 
MiLLERj/ar his  elegant  andpatrioticDifcourfe, 
delivered  by  him,  before  the  Society,  this  Day. 

ORDERED,  That  Brothers  Rodgers,  Mit- 
chell, and  Ker,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on  Mr. 
MILLER,  for  this  Pur pofe,  and  to  requejl  a, 
Copy  for  the  Prefs. 

A  true  Copy  from  the  Minutes, 

BENJAMIN  STRONG,  Secretary. 

Ens  JKg;  .  a£ 


M816&51 


T  O    T  H  E 

TAMMANY     SOCIETY, 

O  R 

COLUMBIAN    ORDER— 

WHOSE     PRINCIPLES   OF     ASSOCIATION 

MERIT  THE    HIGHEST    APPLAUSE 

AND  WHOSE  PATRIOTIC  EXERTIONS 

DEMAND     THE     WARMEST     GRATITUDE 
OF    EVERY    AMERICAN 

THIS      SERMON, 

Delivered  andpullijhed  at  their  Requejl, 
Is  refptclfully  dedicated^ 

By  their  fellow-Citizen^ 

THE    AUTHOR. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

JL  HE  following  Difcourjeis  publijkid^  almo/l  verbatim^  as  it  was 
delivered,  excepting  the  addition  of  the  Notes.  It  was  compiled 
on  veryjhort  Notice  —  amidjlmany  prefmg  Avocations  —  andt  confe- 
qutntly,  in  great  Hajle.  Thefe  Cir  cum/lances,  together  with  the 
want  of  Abilities  and  Experience  in  the  Author,  mujl  apologize  Jar 
its  indite  fled  and  deftRivt  Appearance. 


CHRISTIANITY 

THE 

GRAND  SOURCE,  AND  THE  SUREST  BASIS, 

O        F 

POLITICAL     LIBERTY 

A     SERMON. 


//.  CORINTHIANS,  in.   17. 

AND  WHERE  THE  SPIRIT  OF  THE  LORD 

is,  THERE  is  LIBERTY. 

IN  contemplating  national  ad  vantages,  and 
national  happinefs,  numerous  are  the  oi> 
jefts  which  prefent  themfelves  to  a  wife  and 
reflefting  patriot.  While  he  remembers  the 
paft,  with  thankfulnefs  and  triumph  ;  and 
while  he  looks  forward,  with  glowing  anti- 
cipation, to  future  glories,  he  will  by  no 
means  forget  toenquire into  the  fecret  fprings, 
which  had  an  aftive  influence  in  the  former, 
and  which,  there  is  reafon  to  believe,  will 
be  equally  connefted  with  the  latter. 

THESE  ideas  naturally  arife,  in  the  mind 
of  every  American  citizen,  efpecially  on  this 


8        CHRISTIANITY  THE  SOURCE  OF 

Anniverfary  of  our  country's  natal  hour. 
While  we  review,  with  gratitude  and  exul- 
tation, the  various  fteps  which  have  paved 
the  way  for  our  political  advancement,  we 
are  obvioufly  led  to  fearch  for  the  happy 
principles,  which  laid  at  the  foundation  of 
thefe — And  while  we  fufier  fancy  to  draw 
afide,  for  a  moment,  the  veil  which  covers 
futurity,  and  to  difclofe  its  bright  fcenes,  we 
cannot  overlook  tne  fame  objefts,  on  the 
extension  and  farther  influence  of  which,  we 
are  to  build  our  hopes. 

WE  have  convened,  indeed,  principally 
to  celebrate  the  completion  of  another  year 
of  freedom  to  our  weftern  world.  We  are 
to  keep  this  day  as  a  memorial  of  the  time 
which  gave  rife  to  the  precious  privileges 
we  enjoy,  as  a  fovereign  and  independent 
people.  It  may,  therefore,  be  imagined, 
that  our  only  proper  employment,  on  the  pre- 
fent  occafion,  is,  to  take  a  retrofpeft  of  the 
interefling  fcenes,  which  that  glorious  aera 
prefented  to  the  mind,  and  to  recount  the 
noble  atchievements,  which,  under  the  di- 
rection of  infinite  wifdom,  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  our  profperiiy  and  happinefs.  •  But 


POLITICAL  LIBERTY.  9 

why  fhould  our  chief  attention  be  dire&ed 
toward  thefe  objefts  ?  They  are  obje&s,  in- 
deed, upon  which  to  gaze,  delights  and  ele- 
vates the  patriotic  mind.  They  are  objefts, 
which,  to  lofe  fight  of,  is  to  forfeit  the  cha- 
rafter  of  a  faithful  citizen.  But,  at  the  fame 
time,  they  are  objefts  too  familiar  to  all  pre- 
fent  to  need  the  formality  of  repetition.  I 
addrefs  many  of  thofe  who  were  near  wit- 
neffes  of  thefe  ftupendous  tranfa&ions  ;  and 
not  a  few  who  were  agents  in  the  important 
work.  Whofe  hearts  burn  within  them,  at 
the  recolleftion  of  events,  which  the  world 
beheld  with  amazement  :  and  who  view 
with  tranfport,  the  political  greatnefs  which 
thefe  events  were  the  means  of  umering  in, 
and  eftablifhing  in  our  country. 

IN  an  audience  of  this  defcription,  then, 
where  is  the  neceffity  of  my  trefpaffing  on 
your  patience,  by  a  bare  recital  of  whatis  fo 
well  known,  and  fo  feelingly  remembered  ? 
Where  is  the  need  of  my  attempting,  with 
minute  care,  to  call  up  to  your  view,  the 
patriotic  and  wife  management  of  our  coun- 
fels,  in  thofe  trying  times — the  fortitude  and 

enthufiaftic  ardor  of  our  heroes — the  fplen- 

B 


10      CHRISTIANITY  THE  SOURCE  o* 

dor  of  our  conquefts — or  the  dignity  and 
glory  to  which  we  are  exalted  by  the  fu- 
preme  Arbiter  of  nations  ?  Rather  let  us 
turn  our  attention  to  the  grand  Source,  from 
which  we  are  to  expeft  the  long  continu- 
ance, and  the  happy  increafe  of  thefe  inva- 
luable gifts  of  heaven. 

AND  to  this  choice  of  a  fubjeft  I  am  alfo 
led  by  the  recolleftion,  that  the  refpeftable 
SOCIETY  to  which  this  difcourfe  is,  in  a  par- 
ticular manner,  addrefled,  hold  up,  as  the 
great  obje6t  of  their  attention,  every  thing 
that  may  tend  to  promote  the  progrefs  of  ci- 
vil liberty,  and  to  tranfmit  it,  pure  and  un- 
defiled,  to  thelatefl  pofterity.  They  profefs 
to  fland  as  guardians  over  thofe  ineftimable 
rights  and  privileges,  which  have  been  fo 
dearly  purchafed,  and,  in  general,  to  feek^in 
every  form,  the  advantage  of  their  country. 
To  an  aflbciation  eflablifhed  upon  fuch  lau- 
dable principles,  nothing  that  is  included  in 
thefe  great  outlines  of  their  fyftem,  can  be 
confidered  either  as  foreign  to  their  plan,  or 
beneath  their  attention.  Nothing  can  be 
confidered  entirely  inapplicable  to  their  do- 
figns,  in  celebrating  this  aufpicious  day,  that 


POLITICAL  LIBERTY.  11 

is,  in  any  degree,  connefted  with  the  promo- 
tion of  public  dignity  and  happinefs. 

IT  is  under  this  impreflion,  my  fellow  ci- 
tizens, that  I  propofe,  on  theprefent  occafi- 
on,  to  offer  you  a  few  general  remarks  on 
the  important  influence  of  the  Chriftian  re- 
ligion in  promoting  political  freedom.  And, 
as  the  foundation  of  thefe  remarks,  I  have 
chofen  the  words  which  have juft  been  read 
in  your  hearing. 

I  am  well  aware,  that  thefe  words,  taken 
in  their  proper  fenfe,  have  a  principal  refer- 
ence to  liberty  of  a  different  kind  from  that 
to  which  I  would  accommodate  and  apply 
them.     They  refer  to  that  glorious  deliver- 
ance from  the  power,  and  the  ignoble  chains 
of  fin  and  fatan,  which  is  effefted  by  the  Spi- 
rit of  the  Lord,  in  every  foul,  in  which  his 
fpecial  and   faving  influences  are  found. 
They  point  out,  alfo,  that  releafe  from  the 
bondage  of  the  legal  adminiflration,  which 
the  gofpel  affords  to  all   who  receive  it  in. 
fmcerity  and  truth.— But,  as  I  am  perfuaded 
the  propontion   contained  in  our  text  is 
equally  true,  whether  we  underfland  it  as 


12      CHRISTIANITY  THE  SOURCE  OF 

fpeaking  of  fpiritual  or  political  liberty,  we 
may  fafely  apply  it  to  the  latter,  without  in- 
curring the  charge  of  unnatural  perverfion. 

THE  fentiment,  then,  which  Ifhall  deduce 
from  the  text,  and  to  illuftrate  and  urge 
which,  (hall  be  the  principal  object  of  the 
prefent  difcourfe,  is,  That  the  general  pre- 
valence of  real  Chrijlianity,  in  any  govern- 
ment, has  a  direEl  and  immediate  tendency  to 
promote, and  to  conjirmtherein,political  liberty. 

THIS  important  truth  may  be eftabliflied, 
both  by  attending  to  the  nature  of  this  re- 
ligion, in  an  abftraft  view  ;  and  by  advert- 
ing to  fa6t,  and  the  experimental  teflimony 
with  which  we  are  furniflied  by  hiftory. 

THAT  the  corrupt  paffions  and  the  vices 
of  men,  have,  in  all  ages  of  the  world,  been 
the  grand  fource  and  fupport  of  tyranny, 
and  of  every  fpecies  of  political  and  domef- 
tic  oppreflion,  is  a  truth  too  well  known,  and 
too  generally  admitted,  to  require  formal 
proof,  <Dn  the  prefent  occafion.  A  mo- 
ment's refleflion  on  the  nature  of  tyranny, 
and  of  thofe  difpofitions  in  the  condiment 
members  of  fociety,  which  lead  to  its  origin 


POLITICAL  LIBERTY.  13 

and  advancement,  is  fufficient  to  convince 
every  unprejudiced  mind,  that  human  de- 
pravity is  the  life  and  the  foul  of  flavery. 
What  was  it  that  firft  raifed  this  monfter  from 
the  infernal  regions,  and  gave  him  a  dwel* 
ling  among  men,  but  ignorance,  on  the  one 
hand,  and  on  the  other,  ambition  and  pride? 
Thefe  his  complotters  and  aflbciates,  pro- 
ceeding in  a  ftate  of  indiffoluble  connection, 
have  always  held  up  his  deformed  head,  and 
wielded  his  iron  rod.  Together  they  have 
invariably  come  into  being — together  they 
have  lived  and  flouriftied — and  into  one 
common  grave  have  they  funk  at  laft. 

THE  truth  is,  that  political  liberty  does 
not  reft,  folely,  on  the  form  of  government, 
under  which  a  nation  may  happen  to  live.  It 
does  not  confift,  altogether,  in  the  arrange- 
ment or  in  the  balance  of  power  ;  nor  even 
in  the  rights  and  privileges  which  the  con- 
ftitution  offers  to  every  citizen.  Thefe  in- 
deed, muft  be  acknowledged  to  have  a  con- 
fiderable  efieft  in  its  promotion  or  decline. 
But  we  mall  find,  on  a  clofe  infpeftion,  that 
fomething  elfe  is  of  equal,  if  not  of  greater 


14      CHRISTIANITY  THE  SOURCE  OF 

importance.  Cafes  may  eafily  be  conceived, 
where,  without  a  fingle  material  or  glaring 
deficiency  in  any  of  thefe,  true  and  defira- 
ble  liberty  may  be  almoft  unknown  :   and, 
on  the  other  hand,,  where,  under  the   moft 
wretched  organization  of  government,  the 
fubfiance  of  freedom  mayexift  and  flourim. 
Human  laws   are  too   imperfect,  in  them- 
felves,  to  fecure  completely  this  ineftimable 
ble  fling.     It  muft  have  its  feat  in  the  hearts 
and  difpofitions  of  thofe  individuals  which 
compofe  the   body  politic  ;   and  it  is  with 
the  hearts   and   difpofitions   of  men   that 
Chriftianity  is   converfant.     When,  there- 
fore, that  perfeft  law  of  liberty,  which  this  ho- 
ly religion  includes,  prevails  and  governs  in 
the  minds  of  all,  their  freedom  refts  upon 
a  bafts  more  folid  and  immoveable,  than  hu- 
man wifdom  can  devife. — For  the  obvious 
tendency  of  this   divine   fyftem,  in  all  its 
parts,  is,  in  the  language  of  its  great  Author, 
to  bring  deliverance  to  the  captives,  and  the 
opening  oftheprifon  to  them  that  are  bound  ; 
to  undo  the  heavy  burthens  ;  to  Id  the  op- 
preffed  go  free  ;   and  to  break  every  yoke.   But 
to  be  more  particular — 


POLITICAL  LIBERTY.  15 

THE  prevalence  of  real  Chriflianity,  tends 
to  promote  the  principles  and  the  love  of 
political  freedom,  by  the  dottrines  which  it 
teaches,  concerning  the  human  character, 
and  the  unalienable  rights  of  mankind  ; 
and  by  the  virtues  which  it  inculcates,  and 
leads  its  votaries  to  praftice. — Let  us  take 
a  hafty  view  of  each  of  thefe — 

CAN  oppreflion  andflavery  prevail  among 
any  people  who  properly  underftand,  and 
are  fuitably  impreffed  with,  thole  great Gof- 
pel  truths,  that  all  men  are,  by  nature, 
equal — children  of  the  fame  common  Father 
— dependent  upon  the  fame  mighty  power, 
and  candidates  for  the  fame  glorious  im- 
mortality ?  Muft  not  defpotifm  hide  his 
head  in  thofe  regions,  where  the  relations 
of  man  to  man  are  diflinftly  realized — 
where  citizens,  of  every  rank,  are  confider- 
ed  as  a  band  of  brethren,  and  where  the 
haughty  pretenfions  of  family  and  blood, 
are  viewed  in  all  their  native  abfurdity,  and 
in  thofe  odious  colours  in  which  this  fub- 
lime  fyflem  reprefents  them  ?  In  fhort,  muft 
not  every  fentiment,  favorable  to  flavery, 
be  forever  banilhed  from  a  nation,  in  which, 


16      CHRISTIANITY  THE  SOURCE  OF 

by  means  of  the  benign  light  of  the  glori- 
ous Sun  of  righteoufnefs,  all  the  human 
race  are  viewed  as  fubjeft  to  the  fame  great 
laws,  and  amenable  to  the  fame  awful  tri- 
bunal, in  the  end. 

CHRISTIANITY,  on  the  one  hand, teaches 
thofe,  who  are  raifed  to  places  of  authority, 
that  they  are  not  intrinfically  greater  than 
thofe  whom  they  govern  ;  and  that  all  the 
rational  and  juflifiable  power  with  which 
they  are  inverted,  flows  from  the  people,  and 
is  dependent  on  their  fovereign  pleafure. — 
There  is  a  love  of  dominion  natural  to  every 
human  creature ;  and  in  thofe  who  are  def- 
titute  of  religion,  this  temper  is  apt  to  reign 
uncontrouled.  Hence  experience  has  al- 
ways teftified,  that  rulers,  left  to  themfelves, 
are  prone  to  imagine,  that  they  are  a  fupe- 
rior  order  of  beings,  to  obey  whom,  the 
ignoble  multitude  was  made,  and  that  their 
aggrandizement  is  the  principal  defign  of 
the  focial  compaft.  But  the  religion  of  the 
Gofpel,  rightly  underftood,  and  cordially 
embraced,  utterly  difclaims  fuch  unworthy 
fentiments,  and  banifhes  them  with  abhor- 
rence from  the  mind.  It  contemplates  the 


POLITICAL  LIBERTY.  17 

happinefs  of  the  community,  as  the  prima- 
ry objefl  of  all  political  affociations — And 
it  teaches  thofe,  who  are  placed  at  the  helm 
of  government,  to  remember,  that  they  are 
called  to  prefide  over  equals  and  friends, 
ofe  belt  intereft,  and  not  the  demands  of 
feliifhnefs,  is  to  be  the  objeft  of  their  firfl 
and  higheft  care. 

ON  the  other  hand,Chriftianity,  wherever 
it  exerts  its  native  influence,  leads  every 
citizen  to  reverence  himfelf — to  cherifh  a 
free  and  manly  fpirit — to  think  with  bold- 
nefs  and  energy — to  form  his  principles  up- 
on fair  enquiry,  and  to  refign  neither  his 
confcience  nor  his  perfon  to  the  capricious 
will  of  men.  It  teaches,  and  it  creates  in 
the  mind,  a  noble  contempt  for  that  abjeft 
fubmiffion  to  the  encroachments  of  defpo- 
tifm,to  which  the  ignorant  and  the  unprin- 
cipled readily  yield.  It  forbids  us  to  call, 
or  to  acknowledge,  any  one  mafter  upon 
earth,  knowing  that  we  have  a  Mafter  in 
Heaven,  to  whom  both  rulers,  and  thofe 
whom  they  govern,are  equally  accountable. 
In  a  word,  Chriftianity,  by  illuminating 
the  minds  of  men,  leads  them  to  confider 


i8     CHRISTIANITY  THE  SOURCE  OF 

thernfelves,  as  they  really  are,  all  co-ordinate 
terreftrial princes,  ftripped,  indeed,  of  the 
empty  pageantry  and  title,  but  retaining  the 
fubftance  of  dignity  and  power.  Under  the 
influence  of  this  illumination,  how  natural 
to  difdain  the  {hackles  of  oppreflion — to 
take  the  alarm  at  every  attempt  to  trample 
on  their  juft  rights ;  and  to  pull  down,  with 
indignation,from  the  feat  of  authority,  every 
bold  invader  ! 

BUT  again — The  prevalence  of  Chrifti- 
anity  promotes  the  principles  and  the  love 
of  political  freedom,  not  only  by  the  know- 
ledge which  it  affords  of  the  human  charac- 
ter, and  of  the  unalienable  rights  of  man- 
kind, but  alfo  by  the  duties  which  it  incul- 
cates, and  leads  its  votaries  to  difcharge. 

THE  fruits  of  the  fpirit  are,  juflice,  love, 
gentlenefs,  meeknefs,  and  temperance  :  Or* 
in  other  words,  thefe  are  among  the  diftin- 
guifhed  graces  and  duties,  which  the  Chrif- 
tian  fyftem  not  only  commands  us  conftant- 
ly  to  regard,  but  which  it  creates  in  the 
mind,  and  which  are  found  to  prevail,  in  a 
greater  or  fmaller  degree,  in  all  who  fincere- 
}y  adopt  it.  Now  thefe  are  unquestionably 


POLITICAL  LIBERTY.  19 

the  grand  fupports  of  pure  and  undefiled 
Liberty — They  ftand  equally  oppofed  to  the 
chains  of  tyranny,  and  to  the  licentioufnefs 
of  anarchy. 

IT  is  a  truth  denied  by  few,  at  the  prefent 
day,  that  political  and  domeftic  flavery  are 
inconfiftent  with  jujlice,  and  that  thefe  muft 
necefTarily  wage    eternal    war — So    that, 
wherever  the  latter  exifts  in  perfeftion,  the 
former  muft  fly  before  her,  or  fall  proftrate 
at  her  feet.     What,  then,  would  be  the  hap- 
py  confequence,  if  that  golden  rule  of  our 
holy  religion,  which  enjoins,  that  we  fhould 
do  unto  all   men  whatever  we  would  wifh 
that  they  fliould  do  unto  us,  were  univerfal- 
ly  received  and  adopted  ?   Wefhould  hear 
no  more  of  rulers  plundering  their  fellow 
citizens  of  a  fingle  right ;   nor  of  the  peo- 
ple  refufmg  that  obedience   to   equitable 
laws,  which  the  public  good  requires.     We 
fhould  fee  no  oppreffor  claiming  from  his 
equals,  afubjeftion  which  they  did  not  owe ; 
nor  fhould  we  fee  the  latter  lifting  up  their 
lawlefs  hands,  to  refent  the  reafonable   re- 
quifitions  of  an  authority  conftituted  by 
themfelves.     In  fliort,  were  this  principle 


so      CHRISTIANITY  THE  SOURCE  OF 

univerfally  to  predominate,  we  mould  fee 
nothing,  on  the  one  fide,  but  demands 
founded  on  a  fincere  regard  to  the  general 
intereft;  and,  on  the  other,  that  ready  com- 
pliance, which  promotes  the  peace  and  hap- 
pinefs  of  fociety. 

No  lefs  extenfively  beneficial  in  its  effeSs 
on  civil  liberty,  is  that  pure  and  refined  be- 
nevolence, which  the  Chriltian  fyflem  incul- 
cates, and  eftablifhes  in  the  minds  of  thofe 
who  are  under  its  government.  Though 
the  conftitution  of  a  country  be  ever  fo  de- 
feftive;  yet  if  every  rank  of  citizens  be 
under  the  habitual  influence  of  that  uni- 
verfal  chanty  and  good  will,  which  is  one 
of  the  diftinguifhed  glories  of  our  holy  reli- 
gion, there  will  freedom  fubftantiaily  flou- 
rim.  To  fuppofe  that  oppreflion,  with  the 
numerous  hell-born  woes,  which  follow  in 
his  train,  can  be  cheriihed  in  regions,  where 
the  mild  Spirit  of  benevolence  and  love 
reigns,  is  to  fuppofe  that  the  rnoft  difcor- 
dant  principles  are  capable  of  uniting  ;  that 
demons  of  darknefs,  and  angels  of  light 
can  dwell  together  in  harmony. — Impof- 
fible  !  Wherever  that  heavenly  temper  is 
found,  .which,  like  the  Deity  himfelf,  de~ 


POLITICAL  LIBERTY.  21 

lights  in  Glowering  down  bleffings,  both  on 
enemies  and  friends ;  there  will  the  unali- 
enable  rights  of  men  be  acknowledged,  and 
every  infringement  of  them  will  be  viewed 
with  abhorrence.* 

NOR  let  us  omit  to  take  notice  of  the  pe- 
culiar temperance  and  moderation*  which  the 
Gofpel  fyftemenjoins.  Thefe  are  of  no  lefs 
importance,  with  refpeft  to  their  influence 
on  political  happinefs,  in  general,  and  efpe- 
cially  as  they  affect  the  intereft  of  civil  li- 
berty. It  is  an  obfervation  as  old  as  the 
fa£l  upon  which  it  is  founded,  that  nothing 
more  certainly  tends,  to  fubvert  the  princi 
pies  of  freedom,  and  abate  a  laudable  en- 
thufiafm  for  republican  equality,  than  ade- 

*  Hare  it  will,  perhaps,  be  ebj'fted,  that  howewr  jujf  thcfe  remarks 
•may  appear  in  theory,  yet  their  force  is  not  a  little  weakened,  by  ad~ 
verting  to  the,  numerous  perfections  and  wars,  to  which  Chriflianity 
has  given  riff. — Lut  let  it  be  remembered,  that  Chiiftianity  has  bctn 
more  frequently  the  mere  pretext,  than  the  true  motive,  of  thofe  mul- 
tiplied a£ls  of  cruelty  und.  intolerance,  whi  h  fully  the  pages  of  hi/lo- 
ry. Genially  have  the  offspring  of  ambition ,  revenge,  or  foms 
'•y  corrupt  principle,  been  attributed  to  religion,  and  fuppofed  to 
hzve  nothing  dfefor  their  origin.  But  admitting  for  a  moment,  that 
Chriflianity  has  i:i  reality,  b  tn  the  caufe  of  much  mifikief  of  this 
kind;  yet  it  was  Chri/lianilyjha mefutty  mifundcrflood,  and  im/rioujly 
p;rv:ri::d.  It  teas  not  the  pure  and  benevolent  fyjlcm  of  the  Gof/d, 
but  blind  Zealand  mad fanzticifm. 


22      CHRISTIANITY  THE  SOURCE  OF 

parture  from  that  fimplicity  of  manners,  and 
that  prevailing  moderation,  which  our  reli- 
gion inculcates  and  promotes.  Ever  fince 
the  eftablifhment  of  civil  fociety.  the  words 
of  the  Roman  Poet,  when  fpeak  ing  of  his 
own  country,  have  been  applicable  to  rnbft 

great  empires 

* Sxvior  armis 

Luxuria  incubuit,  viElumque  idcifiiur  orbem. 

Juv. 

BUT  for  this  evil,  there  is  no  preven- 
tive that  promifes  fo  much  fuccefs.  no  cure 
fo  effectual,  as  that  which  is  here  prefented. 
Chriftianity,  more  powerful  than  human 
flrength,  and  more  efficacious  than  human 
law,  regulates  the  paffions,  and  roots  out  the 
corruptions  of  men.  It  not  only  tames  the 
favage  breafl,  and  gives  a  deadly  blow  to 
barbarity  of  manners  ;  but  alfo  tends  to 
quench  every  extravagant  thirft  for  power; 
to  beat  down  every  high  thought,  that  exalt- 
eth  itfelf  againft  the  general  good  ;  and  to 
render  men  contented  with  thofe  rights 
which  the  God  of  nature  gave  them.  While 
thefe  difpofitions  prevail,  flavery  mufl  ftand 
at  an  awful  diflance,  bound  in  chains,  and 


POLITICAL  LIBERTY.  23 

Liberty,  fair  daughter  of  the  fkies  ! 

Walk  in  majeftic  fplendor  o'er  the  land, 
Breathing  her  joys  around 

HAVING  thus  contemplated, in  an  abftraft 
view,  the  native  tendency  of  the  Chriftian 
religion,  to  promote  civil  liberty;  let  us  now 
take  our  ftand  with  Hiftory,  that  miftrefs  of 
\vifdora,  and  friend  of  virtue,  who  from  her 
exalted  Ration,  caufes  human  events  to  pafs 
in  review,  before  her  impartial  tribunal. 

WHEN  we  compare  thofe  nations,  in 
which  Chriftianity  was  unknown,  with  thofe 
which  have  been  happily  favored  with  the 
light  of  fpiritual  day,  we  find  ample  reafon 
to  juftify  the  remarks  which  have  been 
made.  It  may  be  afferted,  with  few  excep- 
tions, that  there  never  was  a  regularly  orga- 
nized government,  fmce  the  foundation  of 
the  world,  where  the  true  religion  was  not 
received,  in  which  political  flavery  did  not 
hold  a  gloomy  reign.* — It  has  been  general- 

*  To  relate  the  enormities  of  defpotifjn,  and  the  confluent  degra. 
dation  and  wretchfdn'ft  to  nhich  luman  -nature  has  been  reduced, 
in  many  parts  of  the  f,l^e,  wvU  be  equally  flocking  and  in'rcdHilt 
to  an  American  ear.  How  mu/l  the  lives  and  fortunes  of  men  have 
b:en  trampled  upon,  among  the  Mexicans,  when,  at  the  dedication 


2^      CHRISTIANITY  THE  SOURCE  OF 

ly  found,  indeed,  that  in  proportion  as  the 
faint  glimmerings  of  the  light  of  nature, 
with  which  Pagan  nations  were  favored,  ga- 
thered ftrength,  and  grew  in  brightnefs,  in 
the  fame  proportion  has  fomething  like  fo- 
cial  freedom  been  promoted  and  extended. 
But  thefe  glimmerings  have  {till  proved  in- 
adequate to  the  defirable  purpqfe,  of  im- 
parting to  their  liberty  a  condftent  and  per- 
manent character.*  As  examples  of  this 
truth,  you  will  readily  recur  to  the  African 
and  Affatic  kingdoms,  not  excepting  fome 
in  other  quarters  of  the  globe. 

ON  the  other  hand/  it  may  be  obferved, 
with  equal  confidence,  and  with  fewer  ex- 
ceptions, that  there  never  wa*  a  government, 
in  which  the  knowledge  of  pure  and  unde- 
filed  Chriflianity  prevailed,  in  which,  at  the 
fame  time,  defpotifm  held  his  throne  with- 

of  their  great  temple,  rue  are  told  they  had  60  or  70  oco  human  fa- 
crifces  ;  and  that  the  ufual  amount  of  them,  annually,  teas  alcut 
20,000  /  See  Clavigero's  Hi/lory  of  Mexico*  vol.  L  page  281. 

*  The  republics  of  Greece  and  Rome  mufl  be  acknowledged,  infant 
degre^ exceptions  to  this  general  remark.  But  even  among  them, 
numerous  were  the  inftanc.es  in  which  the  afpetl  of  their  political  aj~ 
airs  bortttjlimony  to  thtir  fad  want  of  Chriflian  knowledge* 


POLITICAL  LIBERTY.  25 

out  controul.*     It  is  true  indeed,  that  in  the 
Chriftian    world,    during    thofe    centuries 
wherein  grofs  fuperftition  reigned,  and  the 
truth  was  buried  in  darknefs,  flavery  reared 
his  head,   and  fcattered  his  poifon   among 
men.     It  is  true,  that  then,  the  cloud  of  op- 
prefTion  fat  thick  and  deep  over  the  nations, 
and  the  world  was  threatened  with  a  relapfe 
into  ancient  barbarity.     But   when,   at  the 
aufpicious  aera  of  the  reformation,  the  great 
fource  of  day  rofe  again  upon  the  benight- 
ed world  ;   when  the  true  knowledge  of  the 
Lord  revived,  the  truth  fpeedily  made  men 
free.     When,  in  this  fplendid  and  glorious 
light,  they  began  to  fee  what  they  were,  and 
what  they  ought  to  be ;    they  delayed  not  to 
caft  off  their  chains,  and  to  aflert  their  rights, 
with  dignity  and  independence.     This  is  the 
light,  which  ever  fince  thofe  days,  has  been 
gradually  undermining  the  throne  of  tyran- 
ry  in  Europe.t    This  is  the  light,  which,  ga- 

*  ;;  Chrifiianity,  fays  Baron  Moniefquieu,  has  prevented  defpot- 
rfm  frcm  being  eflalliJJied  in  Ethiopia,  nolwith/landing  the  heat  of 
the  climate,  the  largentfs  of  the  empire,  and  its  fituation  in  the  mid/I 
of  African  defpctic  ftaies" 

i  On:  of  the  bitttrejl  enemies  of  Chrifiianity,  Mr.  Hume,  obfervest 
that  **  the  precious  fparks  of  Liberty  were  kindled  and pieferved  by 

D 


26      CHRISTIANITY  THE  SOURCE  OF 

thering  ftrength  and  refinement,  by  its  paf- 
fage  over  the  mighty  deep,  hath  kindled  a 
flame  in  this  weftern  world,  which,  we  truft, 
will  continue  to  blaze,  with  encreafing 
brightnefs,  while  the  Sun  and  Moon  fhall 
endure. 

NOR  is  it  political  flavery  alone,  that  yields 
to  the  mild  and  benign  Spirit  of  Chriftianity. 
Experience  has  fhewn,  that  domeftic  flave- 
ry alfo  flies  before  her,  unable  to  ftand  the 
teft  of  her  pure  and  holy  tribunal.  After 
the  introduftion  of  this  religion  into  the  Ro- 
man empire,  every  law  that  was  made,  relat- 

the  Puritans  in  England  ;  and  that,  tothisfecJ,  whofe  principles  ap- 
pear fo  frivolous,  and  whofe  habits  fo  ridiculous,  the  Englijh  ewe  tht 
whole  freedom  of  their  conftitution"  The  unfounded  and  malicious 
refle&ion  which  this  pajfage  contains,  deferves  nc  comment.  Tht 
conceflTion  is  worthy  of  notice,  as  it  is  the  conceffion  ofanadvtrfary. 

It  may  alfo  be  mentioned,  in.this  place,  that  out  of  the  17  provinces 
of  the  Low  Countries,  which  groaned  under  the  tyranny  of  Philip  II. 
only  the  7,  now  called  the  United  Provinces,  which  admitted  and 
eftablijhe.d  the  principles  of  the  reformation,  fucceeded  in  their  attempts 
to  throw  of  the  Spanijhyoke.  The  reft,  indeed,  made  a  faint  effort 
to  gain  their  liberty,  but  failed  ;  and  are  not,  to  this  day,  a  fret 
people.  A  remarkable  tejlimony,  that  Chriftianity  can  only  be  ex- 
pected to  exert  her  native  influence,  and  produce  the  happieft  e/eflS) 
whtnjhe  appears  in  her  beautiful fimplicity,  ftripped  of  that  gaudy 
and  deforming  attire,  with  which  corrupt  and  ambitious  men  have 
tvtr  bten  difpofed  to  clothe  her. 


POLITICAL  LIBERTY.  27 

ing  to  flaves,  was  in  their  favor,  abating  the 
rigors  of  fervitude,  until,  at  laft,  all  the  fub- 
jetis  of  the  empire  were  reckoned  equally 
free.* 

HUMANITY,  indeed,  is  ftill  left  to  deplore 
the  continuance  of  domeftic  flavery,  in  coun- 
tries bleft  with  Chriftian  knowledge,  and  po- 
litical freedom.  The  American  patriot  muft 
heave  an  involuntary  figh,at  the  reeolleftion, 
that,  even  in  thefe  happy  and  fmgularly  fa- 
vored republics,  this  offspring  of  infernal 
malice,  and  parent  of  human  debafement,  is 
yet  fuffered  to  refide.  Alas,  that  we  fhould 
fo  foon  forget  the  principles,  upon  which 
our  wonderful  revolution  was  founded ! 

*  When  Pope.  Gregoiy  the  great,  who  Jlourijhcd  toward  the  end 
of  the  6th  century,  gave  liberty  to  fonu  of  his  flaves,  he  offered  this 
rtafinjor  it "  Cum  Redemptor  nofter,  totius  Condiior  na- 
turae, ad  hoc  propitiatus,  humanam  carnem  volucret  ajfumere,  ut 
divinifatis  face  gratia,  dirempto  (quo  tenebamur  captivij  vincvlo, 
prijlinat  nos  rtftitutret  libertati  :  falubriter  agitur,fi  homines,  quos 
ab  initio  Liberos  natura  protulit,  et  jus  gentium  jugofubjlituitfervi- 
tutis,  in  ed,  qua  nati  fucrant,  manumit tcntis  bentjtdo,  libertati  red- 
dantur.'*  Gregbr  :  Magn  :  ap.  Potgiejs  :  lib.  iv.  c.  I.  Jett.  j. 
What  a  triumph  is  here  exhibited,  of  Chriftian  principles,  ovir  the 
fjrdid  dittatcs  of  pride  andfilfijkncfs  !  Would  to  God  we  could 
morcjrcquently  hear  this  language,  and  fie  correfponding  pratfice9 
inC'irijliinsofth:pr:f'nt  diy  / 


28      CHRISTIANITY  THE  SOURCE  OF 

But,  to  the  glory  of  our  holy  religion,  and  to 
the  honor  of  many  benevolent  minds,  this 
monfter  has  received  a  fatal  blow,  and  will 
foon,  we  hope,  fall  expiring  to  the  ground. 
Already  does  he  tremble,  as  if  his  deftruftion 
were  at  hand. — With  pleafure  do  we  behold 
many  evident  prefages  of  the  approaching 
period,  when  Chrirtianity  (hall  extend  her 
fceptre  of  benevolence  and  love  over  every 
part  of  this  growing  empire — when  oppref- 
fion  fhall  not  only  be  foftened  of  his  rigours ; 
but  fhall  take  his  flight  forever  from  our 
land. 

THAT  happier  times,  and  a  more  exten- 
five  prevalence  of  liberty,  are  not  far  diftant, 
there  are  numerous  reafons  to  believe. — If 
fo  fignal  and  glorious  has  been  the  influence 
of  Chriflianity,  in  promoting  political  and 
domeftic  freedom,  notwithflanding  her  re- 
ftrained  and  narrow  operation  among  men, 
what  may  we  not  expeft,  when  her  domini- 
on fhall  become  univerfal?  Iffuch  have 
been  her  trophies,  amidft  fo  much  oppofi- 
tion,  and  the  continual  flruggles  of  contra- 
ry principles,  what  may  we  not  indulge  the 


POLITICAL  LIBERTY.  29 

hope  of  feeing,  when  her  empire  {hall  be  co- 
extenfive  with  terreftrial  inhabitants — when 
the  knowledge  oj r  the  Lor  dfliall  cover  the  earth, 
as  the  waters  cover  the  depths  ofthefea  ? 

THEN,  may  we  not  conclude,  that  univer- 
fal  harmony  and  love,  and  as  the  neceflary 
confequence  of  thefe,  univerfal  liberty,  (hall 
prevail?  Then,  may  we  not  confidently 
hope,  that  oppreflion  (hall  be  as  much  ab- 
horred, and  as  much  unknown,  as  freedom 
is,  at  prefent,  in  many  parts  of  the  globe  ? 
That  the  name  of  man,  of  whatever  nation, 
or  kindred,  or  people,  or  tongue,  mail  then 
be  the  fignal  of  brotherly  affeftion : — When 
the  whole  human  race,  uniting  as  a  band  of 
brethren,  {hall  know  no  other  wifhes,  than 
to  promote  their  common  happinefs,  and  to 
glorify  their  common  God  : — When  there 
Jhall  be  nothing  to  hurt  nor  dejlroy  in  all  the 
holy  mountain  of  God — when  the  defart  jliall 
rejoice,  and  bloffom  as  the  rofe  ;  and  when  the 
/:  ngdoms  of  this  world,  Jhall  become  the  king- 
down  of  our  Lord,  and  of  his  Chrifl  ? 

IMAGINE  not,  my   fellow  citizens,  that 
thefe  are  the  flights  of  a  vain  and  difordered 


go      CHRISTIANITY  THE  SOURCE  OF 

fancy.     The   facred  volume  teaches  us   to 

comfort  one  another  with  thefe  words,  and  to 
triumph  in  the  glorious  profpeft.  The  Au- 
thor of  truth  himfelf,  bids  us  look  forward, 

with  joy  and  gladnefs,  to 

"  The  bleft  Immanuel's  gentle  reign  ;" — 
when,yn?m  the  rijing  of  the  Sun,  to  the  going 
down  thereof,  his  nameJJiall  have  free  courfe 
and  be  glorified. 

To  the  introduction  of  thefe  happy  days, 
it  feems  as  if  theprefenttime  afforded  many 
hopeful  preludes.  Can  we  turn  our  eyes  to 
the  European  ftates  and  kingdoms — can  we 
behold  their  convulfive  ftruggles,  without 
.  confidering  them  as  all  tending  to  haften  this 
heavenly  asra?  Efpecially,  can  we  view  the 
interefting  fituation  of  our  AFFECTIONATE 
ALLIES,  without  indulging  the  delightful 
hope,  that  the  fparks,  which  are  there  feen 
rifing  toward  heaven,  though  in  tumultuous 
confufion,  fhall  foon  be  the  means  of  kind- 
ling a  general  flame,  which  fhall  illuminate 
the  darkeft  and  remcteft  corners  of  the  earth, 
and  pour  upon  them  the  effulgence  of  ten- 
fold glory  ? 


POLITICAL  LIBERTY.  31 

THE  fplendor  of  their  profpefts  is,  indeed, 
not  altogether  unclouded.  But,  we  truft, 
that  every  difficulty  and  diforder  will  fpeed- 
ily  vanifh,  and  give  place  to  harmony,  and 
efficient  government.  We  truft,  that  He 
who  rides  in  the  whirlwind,  and  direffs  the 
Jlorm,  will  wield  their  fierce  democracy  with 
his  mighty  arm — hufh  the  rudenoife  of  war 
in  their  borders — breathe  propitious  upon 
their  counfels — and,  in  the  end,  crown  their 
exertions  with  abundant  fuccefs. — 

THE  glorious  ftruflure,  which  this  once 
oppreffed  people  are  employed  in  creeling, 
has  been  aflailed  by  numerous  malignant 
foes.  Black,  and  awfully  threatning  clouds 
have  hung  over  it — the  rains  have  defcend- 
ed — the  floods  have  poured  forth — the  winds 
have  blown — they  have  all  beat  violently 
upon  it;  but,  as  if  founded  upon  a  rock,  it 
has  yet  flood.  And  we  hope  it  will  ftand. 
We  hope  that,  bidding  calm  defiance  to  the 
fury  of  every  tempeft,  it  will  continue  to  rife 
with  increafing  greatnefs,  until  time  (hall  be 
no  more.  Ceafe,  then!  ye  (hortfighted  fons 
of  ambition,  who  would  oppofe  this  impor- 
tant work;  ye  who  delight  in  oppreffion, 


32      CHRISTIANITY  THE  SOURCE  OF 

and  who  feed  on  the  miferies  and  debafe- 
ment  of  men;  ceafe  to  imagine,  that  by 
your  feeble  arm,  you  (hall  be  able  to  with- 
ftand  the  Mighty  One  of  Ifrael! — Remem- 
ber, that  if  this  caufe  be  of  the  Lord,  you 
cannot  overcome  it ;  and  if,  haply,  you  be 
found  fighting  againft  God,  your  labors,  like 
thofe  of  the  unhappy  fufferer  of  old,  will 
but  revert  upon  your  own  heads. 

Let  the  haughty  kings  of  the  earth,  then,fet 
themf elves,  and  the  rulers  take  counfel  together, 
again/I  the  Lord,  and  againft  the  work  of  his 
hands; — He  that  Jitteth  in  the  heavens  will 
laugh — the  Lord  will  have  them  in  derifion. 
If  this  wonderful  Revolution  be,  as  we  truft, 
a  great  link  in  the  chain,  that  is  drawing  on 
the  reign  of  univerfal  harmony  and  peace  ; 
if  it  be  occafioned  by  chriftian  principles, 
and  be  defigned  to  pave  the  way  for  their 
complete  eftablifhment,  however  it  may  ap- 
pear to  be  fullied  by  irreligion  and  vice,*  it 
is  the  caufe  of  God,  and  will  at  laft  prevaiL 

*  The  Author  is  well  aware,  that,  in  offering  hisjentimenls,  thus 
freely,  an  thz  French  Revolution,  hffands  upon  controverted  ground. 
It  would,  therefore,  ill  become  his  inexperience,  and  more  particu- 
larly  his  profeffion.  to  enter  into  the  details,  or  the  warmth  of 


POLITICAL  LIBERTY.  33 

HAVING  thus  commented,  in  a  general 
manner,  on  Tome  of  the  leading  objects, 

this  argument.  He  cannot  hdp  thinking,  howcv&r,  that  the  great 
pilLirs  of  this  Revolution  reft  upon  thoft  natural  rights  «f  men, 
which  arc  a  famed  by  the  be Jl  writers  on  governments  and  upon, 
thofe  fundamental  principles  oj  religion  which  the  Author  of  our  na- 
tures has  revealed. 

It  is  objected  to  this  revolution,  that  it  has  betnjlaincd  by  via* 
lence  and  inhumanity  of  the  moft  attrocious  and  unneceffary  kind* 
Wherever  a  life  has  been  wantonly  dtfiroyed,  or  other  fiverities  un- 
iKceffai  ily  injlitted,  no  one  fhould  withhold  his  cenfure.  Butjhall 
we  make  no  diflinclion  bdween  the  crimes  of  an  enraged  multitude, 
and  the  decijions  of  constituted  authorities?  or,  between  the  preci- 
pitancy of  a  popular  aff&mbly,  at  the  crifts  of  a  JlruggU,  and  the, 
deliberations  of  fettled  government  ?  ff'hen  a  nation,  fo  long  diftref- 
fed,  lifts  her  avenging  arm,  and  breaks  her  chains  on  iht  heads  of 
her  oppreffors  ;  when  a  people  make  a  violent  effort,  to  overturn  the 
mountains  of  defpotifm  under  which  they  are  buried,  can  we  expeft 
perfecl  wifdom,  prudence,  and  moderation  to  guide  all  their  exerti- 
ons ?  IVkiU  man  remainj  fuck  a  creatuic  as  he  is,  this  would  be.  a 
miracle  indeed ! 

But  it  will  be  further  ajked — Why,  Jmce  the  great  objeEl  of  this 
difcourfe  is  toejlablijh  a  natural  connection  between  chri/lianity  and 
political  liberty  ;  why,  in  France,  amid  ft  the  prevalence  of  the  latter, 
does  the  former  app-ar  to  be  fo  little  refpe&ed  and  acknowledged,  ef- 
pecially  among  the  principal  friends  and  promoters  of  the  revolution  ? 
Why  do  we  not  fee  a  remarkable  attention  to  real  religion,  amid/I  fo 
many  exertions  tofecurethe  rights  of  men  ?  The  anfwer  is,  that  Chrif- 
tianity,  confidered  as  afyftem  of  principles ,  inthtory,  may  produce 
txtenfive  effetls,  where  its  fp<:cial  andfaving  influence  is  extremely 
fmall.  Nay,  every  attentive  obferver  of  human  ajf airs,  has  doubt' 
Ufs  difcover;d  ajecret  but  important  operation  of  thcfe  principles,  on 
minds  actually  defpi/ing  and  itjetting  thim.  Th:  one  half  cf  that 

E 


34      CHRISTIANITY  THE  SOURCE  OF 

which  prefented  themfelves  from  the  paf- 
fage  of  fcripture  which  was  chofen,  the  firlt 
emotions  ^dch  naturally,  arife,  both  from 
tfye  preceding  remarks,  and  this  interefling 
occafion,  are  thofe  of  gratitude  and  of 
praife.  Here,  happily,  our  thankfulnefs  as 
patriots,  and  our  thankfulnefs  as  chriftians, 
perfectly  coincide,  and  are  infeparably  con- 
nefted  together. 

LET  us  unite,  then,  in  offering  our  grate- 
ful  acknowledgments,    to    the    Sovereign 

lightt  in  which  infidels  boaft,  as  the  Jplendid  rtfult  of  reafon  alone, 
is,  in  fact,  the  light  of  revelation;  and  white  they  contemn  its  grand 
Source,  they  adopt  and  ufe  it,  in  all  thdr  religi&us  creeds,  and  in 
many  of  their  daily  actions.  A  fmallextenfion  of  this  thought,  will3 
perhaps j  whzn  applied  to  the  French  na'iont  and  to  all  fimilar  cajes9 
go  far  toward  folving  the  difficulty  in  queftion — That  people  may 
be  ailing  in  the.  light  of  chrinian  principles,  though  they  know  it  not, 
neither  regard  them.  A  deliverance  from  the  darknejs  offuperjtition, 
may  have  led  them,  at  once,  to  cqft  off  the  chains  of  tyranny,  and 
to  renounce  even  thejufl  reftraints  of  real  Chriflianity. 

But,  after  all ;  is  there  not  reafon  to  hope,  that  many  of  the  ac- 
counts which  have  been  circulated  in  America,  rcfp.fl.ing  the  dij "order t 
vice,  and  contempt  of  all  facred  things,  prevalent  in  France,  are  to- 
tally groundlefs  ?  Is  it  net  poflible,  that  there  is  much  more  regulari- 
ty•,  decorum,  and  real  religion,  in  that  flruggling  Republic,  than  her 
neighboring  enemies,  fo  fond  of  mifreprefentation  and  calumny,  art 
willing  to  allow  ?  That  many  Jhameful  in/lances  of  exaggeration 
have  been  detefted  is  well  known. 


POLITICAL  LIBERTY.  35 

Difpenfer  of  all  bleflings,  that,  while  many 
nations  are  covered  with  the  mantle  of 
darknefs  and  fuperftition  ;  and  in  confe- 
quence  of  this,  are  groaning  under  the  yoke 
of  fervitude  ;  the  Sun  of  righteoufnefs  hath 
rifen  upon  us,  with  healing  in  his  wings  ; 
and  hath  taught  us,  in  a  political  view,  to 
know,  and  to  maintain  our  proper  character. 
Let  us  blefs  his  holy  name,  that,  under  the 
influence  of  this  light,  we  have  been  led  to 
aflert  the  dignity  of  human  nature — to  throw 
off  the  chains  of  oppreflion — to  think  and 
aft  for  ourfelves,  and  to  acknowledge  no 
other  king  than  the  King  of  the  univerfe. 
Let  us  blefs  his  name,  that,  under  the  gui- 
dance of  the  fame  light,  we  have  been  led  to 
frame  a  conftitution,  which  recognizes  the 
natural  and  unalienable  rights  of  men  ; 
which  renounces  all  limits  to  human  liber- 
ty, but  thofe  which  neceffity  and  wdfdorrt 
prefcribe  ;  and  whofe  great  objeft  is,  the 
general  good.  0  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord  ? 
for  he  is  good ;  for  his  mercy  endureth  for- 
ever. Let  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord  fayfo, 
whom  he  hath  redeemed  from  the  opprejfor,  and 
delivered  from  all  their  deftrudions.  0  that 


36      CHRISTIANITY  THE  SOURCE  OF 

"X 

men  would praife  the  Lord,  for  his  gocdnefs, 
and  for  his  wonderful  works  to  the  children  of 


men  i 


AGAIN  ;  if  it  be  a  folemn  truth,  that  the 
prevalence  of  Chriftianity,  has  a  natural  and 
immediate  tendency  to  promote  political 
freedom,  then,  thofe  are  the  trueft  and  the" 
wifeft  patriots,  who  ftudy  to  encreafe  its  in- 
fluence in  fociety.  Hence  it  becomes  every 
American  citizen  to  confider  this  as  the  great 
palladium  of  our  liberty,  demanding  our 
firft  and  higheft  care. 

THE  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us, 
whereof  we  are  glad.  The  lines  are  fallen  un- 
to us  in  p  leaf  ant  places,  yea,  we  have  a  goodly 
heritage.  We  poffefs  an  extenfive,  noble 
country.  Fertility  and  beauty  vie  with 
each  other,  in  favor  of  our  eafe,  accom- 
modation, and  delight.  Every  avenue  to 
national  importance,  and  the  felicity  of  in- 
dividuals, is  opened  wide.  Let  it,  then,  in 
addition  to  all  thefe  advantages,  and  to 
complete  its  glory,  let  it  be  ImmanueFs  land. 
This  will  refiae,  and  inconceivably  appreci- 
ate your  freedom.  This  will  render  you  at 


POLITICAL  LIBERTY.  37 

once  the  pattern,  and  the  wonder  of  the 
\vorld. 

To  each  of  you,  then,  my  fellow  ci- 
tizens, on  this  Anniverfary  of  our  Inde- 
pendence, be  the  folemn  addrefs  made !  Do 
you  wilh  tojtandfa/l  in  that  liberty,  wfiere- 
with  the  Governor  of  the  univerfe  A&/A  made 
you  free?  Do  you  defire  the  encreafmg  prof- 
perity  of  your  country  ?  Do  you  wifli  to 
fee  the  law  refpecled — good  order  preferved, 
and  univerfal  peace  to  prevail  ?  Are  you 
convinced,  that  purity  of  mora^  isneceflary 
for  thefe  important  purpofes  ?  Do  you  be- 
lieve, that  the  Chriftian  religion  is  the  firm- 
eit  bafis  of  morality?  Fix  its  credit,  then, 
by  adopting  it  yourfelves,  and  fpread  its  glo- 
ry by  the  luftre  of  your  example  !  And 
while  you  tell  to  your  children,  and  to  your 
children's  children,  the  wonderful  works  of 
the  Lord,  and  the  great  deliverance  which 
he  hath  wrought  out  for  us,  teach  them  to 
remember  the  Author  of  thefe  bleflings,and 
they  will  know  how  to  eflimate  their  value. 
Teach  them  to  acknowledge  the  God  of 
heaven  as  their  King,  and  they  will  defpife 
fubmiflion  to  earthly  defpots.  Teach  them 
to  be  Chriflians,  and  they  will  ever  be  free ! 


38  CHRISTIANITY  THE  SOURCE  OF, 

AND  0,  THOU  EXALTED  SOURCE  OF  Ll- 
BERTY  !  not  only  grant  and  fecure  to  us 
POLITICAL  FREEDOM  ;  but  may  we  all,  by 
the  effeftual  working  of  thy  Mighty  Power, 
and  through  the  mediation  of  Chrift  Jefus, 
be  brought  into  the  GLORIOUS  LIBERTY  OF 
THE  SONS  OF  GOD  ;  that  when  this  world, 
and  all  that  is  therein,  (hall  be  burnt  up,  we 
may  become  citizens  of  a  better  country, 
that  is  an  heavenly. 

^ 

AMEN! 


JULY  4, 

'793- 


> 


